Has mentioning the reason for leaving the last role being that “ it wasn’t a fit” work for anyone?

23 Comments

1. Holly NunnallyNovember 5,2023 at 4:21PM UTC

   I have never used that reason personally, but last week I interviewed someone who had many jobs in a short period of time on her resume. When we questioned her about the job hopping, she explained that she hasn't been able to find employment that was a "good fit" for her. This raised red flags and we do not intend to offer her the position.

   My opinion is that if it happens once or twice, it's probably okay. This lady had seven jobs in four years that weren't a good fit. I don't think it sounds negative at all. Not everyone is a good fit within a team.

2. maria roseNovember 5,2023 at 5:09PM UTC

   I can understand job hopping to get the best opportunity possible but short term constant job hopping means that specific individual is never going to be satisfied with any job position and they would have to make a commitment in writing ( as per a written work contract) to remain on the job for a certain amount of time ( very similar to temp hire position) to even be considered to be hired. This type of worker will never be a permanent employee for any company. Make your hiring decision based on your long term need to have an employee in that specific position.

3. AnonymousNovember 5,2023 at 6:35PM UTC

   Oh my! Yea def red flag. Fortunately, I have tenured history.

4. AnonymousNovember 7,2023 at 3:31PM UTC

   Why bother interviewing? Just curious.

5. AnonymousNovember 5,2023 at 4:53PM UTC

   I wouldn't say it wasn't a good fit. Instead, I would say, "The reason I left my last role was because there were no further opportunities for advancement with that company. I feel coming here would not only be a promotion from my last position, but I also feel that I have a lot to offer this company based on my previous experience at XYZ. " Win for you, win for them. And also taking their question and showing the positive reason why you want to come there (not just to escape the last place).

6. Alexis GladstoneNovember 6,2023 at 1:30PM UTC

   I wouldn't say it wasn't a good fit because that will open you up to having to say why, and you don't want to go there based on what you shared. I could say it no longer fit with your career goals, and then go on to explain what those are. Another explanation you can use is that there was no opportunity for you to advance and grow in your career.

   Good luck.

7. AnonymousNovember 6,2023 at 1:30PM UTC

   If you say that the last/current job “wasn’t a good fit” then you need to follow up with SPECIFIC reasons why the next/prospective one is. A chance to use specific skills, to grow, to do more of work you are good at and enjoy. You need to persuade the interviewer that you’re not going to bail on them, too, if you decide it’s a bad fit. See the story elsewhere in these comments.

   (Yes, employers should do more to fix toxic work environments and believe you if you say you are fleeing one. But that’s not the perspective an interviewer or hiring manager is bringing to your conversation with them.)

8. AnonymousNovember 6,2023 at 1:47PM UTC

   This was the most simplistic explanation I could come up with in my last full time job search (late winter/early spring 2022) and it was successful.

9. AnonymousNovember 6,2023 at 1:56PM UTC

   I will be transferring from one department to the next. My supervisor said we work in a toxic environment. The physical environment is very important.. …she also said it’s not a good fit for me.

10. Tami CannizzaroNovember 6,2023 at 4:19PM UTC

    Yes - I have. And it's worked fine. Sometimes the least said about a not-so-good experience, the better. I have one in my past that was a serious bad fit from the get-go. If I'm asked about my short tenure, I tell them I realized that it was a great company yet my personality and work style didn't mesh with the way the company did business. I provide an example (which is true) and briefly explain what I learned from the experience. End of discussion. It's never held me back. And I don't say anything negative about the company or the people. BTW, I don't use the phrase "toxic environment" even though I could. In my opinion, it doesn't help me. Better to simply say my personality didn't fit well with the organization and call it a day.

11. AnonymousNovember 6,2023 at 6:34PM UTC

    THIS THIS THIS THIS THIS!!!!!!

    I feel like "toxic work environment" is thrown around too much. Some would consider my company to be one but I don't. They just expect people to do their jobs. We can and do counsel employees on their behavior/safety reasons/etc but that is NOT a toxic environment.

    I had one say we ran a Toxic Work Environment because he was caught on a cherry picker, about 15 feet off the ground on his telephone. Employees are told Day 1 that it is grounds for immediate termination. It was like his 4th time. We weren't toxic, he just didn't want to follow rules.

12. AnonymousNovember 7,2023 at 2:33PM UTC

    I was in a similar situation, and when asked, I say, I found a better opportunity, which is true.

13. AnonymousNovember 7,2023 at 2:51PM UTC

    (a) "The trend goes on. Quit a toxic work environment caused by my superiors and now seeking new opportunities."

    If you leaving what is to you a "toxic work environment" is a trend, then you need to look at yourself and honestly assess if you are the problem or if your expectations are unrealistic.

    (b) If you say, “it wasn’t a good fit,” then be ready to explain why you didn't fit in (It's not your employer's responsibility for you to "fit in," and what you learned from the experience so you do not repeat the same mistake.

    In other words, own the fact that not being "a fit" was based on you did not do enough due diligence about the company, leadership team, colleague, etc., before accepting the job.

14. AnonymousNovember 7,2023 at 7:27PM UTC

    You could be the perfect person who does all the due diligence in the world, there’s no protection when employers bait & switch then gaslight the employee for falling for it. There are a lot of people who are great liars & manipulators.

    Hostile Work Environment can be unlawful.

15. AnonymousNovember 8,2023 at 4:46PM UTC

    You have a bitter way of looking at the world.

    Try owning your actions and not blaming others for carrying the false narratives "employers bait & switch" and "lots of people who are great liars & manipulators."

    The world is not as bad as you make it out to be; especially if you look at yourself first.

16. AnonymousNovember 8,2023 at 7:11PM UTC

    I expected that sort of response coming from you.

    It’s not so bad for privileged people, they’re privileged.

    Politicians are wonderful liars.

    At time like this of consistent shootings & bombings…yeah it must sound like paradise.

    Bad management needs to take accountability, otherwise why would we need laws for it.

17. AnonymousNovember 9,2023 at 2:43PM UTC

    No, I meant the trending in posts I see here about working environments. Sorry about the confusion. I can see how that can be mixed up. This was my first experience with toxic environments. Before that I worked with an employer for 9 years.

    good points nonetheless though

18. Changemaker120239November 7,2023 at 3:52PM UTC

    I think you can reframe this into something that shows what you were missing, and how the next job appears to fulfill that aspect, and focus on your potential growth opportunities.

    My last boss had a 200-page report on violations of respectful workplace guidelines and findings that she discriminated against me. I left the role but she kept hers. The job before that, my boss was given a "special project" and basically removed from the workplace because of hostile workplace violations. I do not indicate "poor fit" in either of those cases, and identify what I was/am looking for in my next role. It doesn't feel fair all the time, but I'm not dragging that old stuff around anymore when I'm future-focused.

19. AnonymousNovember 7,2023 at 4:07PM UTC

    Perhaps use this line instead, after much thought about my career trajectory I decided to leave my most recent role to focus full time on finding a position in a company where the alignment with my passion and direction is stronger. I don't think I could give myself the time to truly focus staying there and prefer not to job hunt on a companies dime.

20. AnonymousNovember 9,2023 at 2:24AM UTC

    Do people really talk like that? That would appear quite funny coming out of my mouth.

21. AnonymousNovember 9,2023 at 7:00PM UTC

    Clearly those are my words not yours, but you should let them know that you quit for focus on your search and not to do it while being paid where you don't want to stay. Simple!

22. AnonymousNovember 9,2023 at 8:46PM UTC

    Thank you ! Saying thanks as the original author!

23. Sarah StadtherrNovember 7,2023 at 4:19PM UTC

    Yes. It worked for me. After stating that the position was not what I had been hired for I went on to BRIEFLY explain the three things that made the position intolerable. (Hired remote but brought to the office with no opportunity to return to remote, my abominable commute in a winter state, and an environment contrary to published core values of company). The interviewer accepted my explanation and I did get the job.